AIR-VARNA HOSTED A PARTNER MEETING FOR A PROJECT UNDER THE EURO-MED PROGRAM

The Varna Economic Development Agency hosted a partner meeting for the #TOURISMO project, funded by the INTERREG Euro-Mediterranean Basin Program 2021-2027. The project involves 10 partners and 16 associated organizations from seven European countries: Greece, Italy, Spain, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Croatia, and Malta. The lead organization is the South Aegean Development Agency – READ S.A., Greece. The Bulgarian partners in the project are the Varna Economic Development Agency and the “Odessos” District of Varna Municipality as an associated organization.

The main goal of TOURISMO is to transition towards conscious and sustainable tourism through innovative approaches, the participation of various stakeholders, improving tourism services, and stronger engagement of end users. The idea is to address these challenges by utilizing innovative technologies that offer modern solutions and services for monitoring and managing tourist flows.

During the event in Varna on September 17 and 18, the goals and planned activities of the project were presented, as well as the key roles and commitments of the partners in its implementation. Each partner introduced the attendees to the pilot area they represent, outlining their work specifics and the methods to achieve the planned results.

The project will focus on areas with a high concentration of tourists in seven pilot sites across partner countries. By utilizing data collected through various means—thermal cameras, visitor counters, drones, etc.—the density, routes, behavior, and habits of tourists will be studied. A variety of locations have been selected for this purpose, including UNESCO sites, ports, city centers, beaches, cultural monuments, parks, and more.

In Varna, three points in the city center will be monitored using drones: the Opera area, the entrance to the Sea Garden, and the Maritime Station. The information collected will be used to prepare an analysis, based on which recommendations will be made to the institutions and local authorities involved in tourism activities.

The duration of TOURISMO is 33 months—from January 1, 2024, to September 30, 2026.